Shoe

ABSTRACT

An upper includes bottom and top upper parts, a first gap located at a location corresponding to a medial side of a foot of a wearer, and a tightening part for tightening the bottom and top upper parts. The bottom upper part includes a first arch cover part for supporting a medial longitudinal arch of the foot from below. The first gap includes a first arch region disposed at a location corresponding to the medial longitudinal arch. The tightening part is configured to adjust and reduce at least a dimension of the first arch region in a vertical direction.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-167663 filed on Sep. 7, 2018, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to shoes.

Shoes having enhanced fitting properties to feet of wearers, such as a shoe described in Japanese Patent No. 2832684, have been proposed to date.

Japanese Patent No. 2832684 describes a shoe including a sole, a short sock-like upper (inner) disposed on the upper surface of the sole, and a fastening member fixed to the sole and including a plurality of short belts disposed outside the upper.

SUMMARY

In the shoe of Japanese Patent No. 2832684, when the upper is strongly tightened by the short belts of the fastening member, this fastening force causes an excessive stress to be concentrated on the upper, and the upper is easily crinkled. The occurrence of crinkles hinders fitting of the upper to a foot of a wearer. In particular, when the short belts of the fastening member are tightened, it is difficult to appropriately fit the upper to the foot of the wearer including a medial longitudinal arch having a complicated curved shape.

The present disclosure has been made in view of the foregoing circumstances, and an object of an aspect of the disclosure is to enhance fit feeling and support property to a foot of a wearer at least for a medial longitudinal arch.

To achieve the object, a first aspect of the present disclosure provides a shoe including a sole and an upper. The upper includes a bottom upper part fixed to a peripheral portion of the sole, a top upper part disposed above the bottom upper part, a first gap disposed at a location corresponding to a medial side of a foot of a wearer, the first gap being disposed between the bottom upper part and the top upper part in a vertical direction, and a tightening part disposed at least in the first gap, the tightening part being configured to tighten the bottom upper part and the top upper part to each other, the bottom upper part includes a first arch cover part disposed at a location corresponding to a medial side of the foot of the wearer and supports a medial longitudinal arch of the foot of the wearer from below, the first gap includes a first arch region disposed at a location corresponding to the medial longitudinal arch of the foot of the wearer, and the tightening part is configured to adjust and reduce at least a dimension of the first arch region in the vertical direction.

In the first aspect, in a case where the tightening part reduces the dimension of the first arch region in the vertical direction, the bottom and top upper parts approach the outer peripheral surface of the foot of the wearer including the medial longitudinal arch. In this case, since the second arch region is only displaced such that the dimension thereof in the vertical direction relatively decreases, excessive stress concentration on the bottom and top upper parts can be reduced. Thus, crinkles and the like are less likely to occur in the bottom and top upper parts. Consequently, the bottom and top upper parts can easily fit the outer peripheral surface of the foot of the wearer including the medial longitudinal arch. In particular, the first arch cover part of the bottom upper part at the medial side can easily fit, from below, the medial longitudinal arch of the foot of the wearer having a complicated curved shape. The foot of the wearer, mainly the medial longitudinal arch, can be stably supported by the bottom upper part and the top upper part without a shift in the shoe. Thus, in the first aspect, it is possible to enhance fit feeling and support property to the foot of the wearer at least for the medial longitudinal arch.

In the second aspect based on the first aspect, the first gap further may include a first toe region disposed at a location corresponding to a toe located ahead of the medial longitudinal arch of the foot of the wearer, the first toe region being continuous to the first arch region, and the tightening part may be configured to adjust and reduce a dimension of each of the first arch region and the first toe region in the vertical direction.

In this second aspect, the tightening part reduces the dimensions of both the first toe region and the first arch region in the vertical direction so that the bottom and top upper parts can easily fit the outer peripheral surface of the foot of the wearer including an area from the toes to the medial longitudinal arch. In addition, an area of the foot of the wearer from the toes to the medial longitudinal arch can be stably supported by the bottom upper parts and the top upper part without a shift in the shoe. Thus, in the second aspect, it is possible to enhance fit feeling and support property to the foot of the wearer for the toe and the medial longitudinal arch.

In the third aspect based on the second aspect, the dimension of the first arch region in the vertical direction may be larger than the dimension of the first toe region in the vertical direction.

In the third aspect, the amount of adjustment for reducing the dimension of the first arch region in the vertical direction is relatively large. Thus, it is possible to enhance fit feeling and support property to the foot of the wearer for the medial longitudinal arch.

In a fourth aspect based on the first aspect, the upper further may include a second gap located at a location corresponding to a lateral side of the foot of the wearer, the second gap being disposed between the bottom upper part and the top upper part in the vertical direction, the bottom upper part may include a second arch cover part disposed at a location corresponding to the lateral side of the foot of the wearer, the second arch cover part being configured to cover a lateral longitudinal arch of the foot of the wearer from a side, the second gap may include a second arch region located at a location corresponding to the lateral longitudinal arch of the foot of the wearer, and the tightening part may be configured to tighten the bottom upper part and the top upper part in the second gap and to adjust and reduce a dimension of the second arch region in the vertical direction.

In the fourth aspect, in a case where the tightening part reduces the dimension of the second arch region in the vertical direction, the bottom and top upper parts approach the outer peripheral surface of the foot of the wearer including the lateral longitudinal arch. In this case, since the second arch region is only displaced such that the dimension thereof in the vertical direction relatively decreases, excessive stress concentration on the bottom and top upper parts can be reduced at the lateral side. Thus, crinkles and the like are less likely to occur in the bottom and top upper parts at the lateral side. Consequently, the bottom and top upper parts can easily fit the outer peripheral surface of the foot of the wearer at the lateral side. In particular, the second arch cover part of the bottom upper part located at the lateral side can easily fit an area where bones constituting the lateral longitudinal arch of the foot of the wearer project toward the lateral side such that the second arch cover part surrounds this area. Thus, in the fourth aspect, it is possible to enhance feeling to the foot of the wearer including the lateral longitudinal arch.

In a fifth aspect based on the fourth aspect, the tightening part may include at least one shoelace such that ends of the shoelace are connected to each other in a rear portion of the top upper part.

In the fifth aspect, the shoelace disposed in the first and second gaps can be tied as in a general shoe.

As described above, according to some aspects of the present disclosure, fitting feeling and support property to a foot of a wearer at least for a medial longitudinal arch can be enhanced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating a shoe according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a side view illustrating the shoe of the embodiment seen from a medial side, together with a skeleton structure of a foot.

FIG. 3 is a side view illustrating the shoe of the embodiment seen from a lateral side, together with the skeleton structure of the foot.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a view corresponding to FIG. 4 where a shoelace is loosened.

FIG. 6 is a plan view illustrating a shoe according to a first variation of the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating the shoe of the first variation of the embodiment seen from a medial side.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating the shoe of the first variation of the embodiment seen from a lateral side.

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a shoe according to a second variation of the embodiment and corresponding to FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail hereinafter with reference to the drawings. The following embodiments are merely examples in nature, and are not intended to limit the disclosure, applications, and use of the applications.

FIGS. 1 through 3 illustrate an entire shoe S according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The shoe S is used as, for example, a sport shoe for running or various sports, a sneaker for daily use, and/or a rehabilitation shoe.

Here, as the shoe S, only a left shoe is illustrated. A right shoe has a symmetric structure to the left shoe. Thus, the following description will be directed only to the left shoe, and description of the right shoe will be omitted.

In the following description, the expressions “above,” “top,” “below,” and “bottom,” represent a vertical positional relationship among components of the shoe S, the expressions “front,” “ahead,” and “rear” represent a longitudinal positional relationship among the components of the shoe S, and the expressions “medial side” and “lateral side” represent a positional relationship among the components of the shoe S in the foot width direction.

(Sole)

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 through 4, the shoe S includes a sole 1. The sole 1 includes an outer sole 1 a and a midsole 1 b.

The outer sole 1 a corresponds to a region from a forefoot to a rearfoot of a foot F of a wearer. The outer sole 1 a is constituted by a hard elastic member having a hardness higher than that of the midsole 1 b. Examples of materials suitable for the outer sole 1 a include a thermoplastic resin such as an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA), a thermosetting resin such as polyurethane (PU), rubber materials such as butadiene rubber and chloroprene rubber.

The midsole 1 b is configured to support the surface of the bottom of the foot F of the wearer. The midsole 1 b is constituted by a soft elastic member. Examples of materials suitable for the midsole 1 b include a thermoplastic synthetic resin such as an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) and a foam thereof, a thermosetting resin such as polyurethane (PU) and a foam thereof, rubber materials such as butadiene rubber and chloroprene rubber and foams thereof. The midsole 1 b is stacked on top of the outer sole 1 a with, for example, an adhesive.

(Upper)

Next, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5, the shoe S includes an upper 2 for covering the foot F of the wearer.

The upper 2 includes, at the top thereof, a foot insertion portion 2 a in which the foot F of the wearer is inserted. The foot insertion portion 2 a is constituted by an upper end of a rear upper part 4 described later and a rear end of a top upper part 10 described later.

(Front and Rear Upper Parts)

The upper 2 includes front and rear upper parts 3 and 4. Each of the front and rear upper parts 3 and 4 is made of, for example, a knitted fabric, a textile fabric, a nonwoven fabric, a synthetic leather, a synthetic leather, and a natural leather.

The front upper part 3 is disposed at a location corresponding to toes of the wearer. The bottom of the front upper part 3 is fixed to a peripheral portion of a front portion of the sole 1 (midsole 1 b).

The rear upper part 4 is disposed at a location corresponding to a heel of the foot F of the wearer. The bottom of the rear upper part 4 is fixed to a peripheral portion of a rear portion of the sole 1 (midsole 1 b).

(Bottom Upper Part) As illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5, the upper 2 includes bottom upper parts 5 and 5. Each of the bottom upper parts 5 and 5 is made of, for example, a knitted fabric, a textile fabric, a nonwoven fabric, a synthetic leather, a synthetic leather, and a natural leather, in a manner similar to the front and rear upper parts 3 and 4.

The bottom upper parts 5 and 5 are disposed at locations corresponding to a medial side and a lateral side, respectively, of the foot F of the wearer. Each bottom upper part 5 extends longitudinally in correspondence with a region from the toes to the heel of the wearer (see FIGS. 2 and 3). The bottom of each bottom upper part 5 is fixed to a peripheral portion of the sole 1 (midsole 1 b).

Each bottom upper part 5 is integrally formed with the front and rear upper parts 3 and 4. Specifically, each bottom upper part 5 is integrally formed with the front upper part 3 such that the front end of the bottom upper part 5 is continuous to the rear end of the front upper part 3. Each bottom upper part 5 is integrally formed with the rear upper part 4 such that the rear end of the bottom upper part 5 is continuous to the front end of the rear upper part 4.

Broken lines L1 and L1 of FIGS. 1 through 3 imaginarily represent boundaries between the front upper part 3 and the bottom upper parts 5 and 5. Broken lines L2 and L2 in FIGS. 2 and 3 imaginarily represent boundaries between the rear upper part 4 and the bottom upper parts 5 and 5.

(First Toe Cover Part and First Arch Cover Part)

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the bottom upper part 5 at the medial side includes a first toe cover part 6 and a first arch cover part 7. The first toe cover part 6 and the first arch cover part 7 are continuous to each other longitudinally. Broken lines L3 in FIGS. 1 through 3 imaginarily represent the boundary between the first toe cover part 6 and the first arch cover part 7.

The first toe cover part 6 is disposed at a location corresponding to a region from a hallux distal phalanx DP to a vicinity of a distal condyle of a hallux metatarsal MT1 in the foot F of the wearer.

The first arch cover part 7 is disposed at a location corresponding to a region from the vicinity of the distal condyle of the hallux metatarsal MT1 to a substantial middle of a heel bone HL in the longitudinal direction in the foot F of the wearer. The upper end of the first arch cover part 7 is continuous along a curve connecting the bottoms of the hallux metatarsal MT1, a medial cuneiform bone CM, a navicular bone NB, a talus TB, and the heel bone HL in the foot F of the wearer. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the first arch cover part 7 supports a medial longitudinal arch MA of the foot F of the wearer from below. In general, the medial longitudinal arch MA corresponds to an area (so-called plantar arch) constituted by the hallux metatarsal MT1, the medial cuneiform bone CM, the navicular bone NB, the talus TB, and the heel bone HL.

(Second Toe Cover Part and Second Arch Cover Part)

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the bottom upper part 5 at the lateral side includes a second toe cover part 8 and a second arch cover part 9. The second toe cover part 8 and the second arch cover part 9 are continuous to each other longitudinally. Broken lines L4 in FIGS. 1 through 3 imaginarily represent the boundary between the second toe cover part 8 and the second arch cover part 9.

The second toe cover part 8 is disposed at a location corresponding to a region from the hallux distal phalanx DP to a vicinity of a distal condyle of a fifth metatarsal MT5 in the foot F of the wearer.

The second arch cover part 9 is disposed at a location corresponding to a region from the vicinity of the distal condyle (MP joint vicinity) of the fifth metatarsal MT5 to the substantial middle of the heel bone HL in the longitudinal direction in the foot F of the wearer. The upper end of the second arch cover part 9 is continuous to a curve connecting the fifth metatarsal MT5, a cuboid bone CB, and the heel bone HL in the foot F of the wearer. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the second arch cover part 9 covers a side of a lateral longitudinal arch LA of the foot F of the wearer. More specifically, the second arch cover part 9 covers an area where bones constituting the lateral longitudinal arch LA project toward the lateral side in the foot F of the wearer. In general, the lateral longitudinal arch LA corresponds to an area constituted by the fifth metatarsal MT5, the cuboid bone CB, and the heel bone HL.

(Top Upper Part)

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5, the upper 2 includes the top upper part 10. The top upper part 10 is made of, for example, a knitted fabric, a textile fabric, a nonwoven fabric, a synthetic leather, a synthetic leather, and a natural leather, in a manner similar to the front and rear upper parts 3 and 4.

The top upper part 10 is disposed above the bottom upper parts 5 and 5. The top upper part 10 is disposed at a location corresponding to a region from toes to an instep of the foot of the wearer. The top upper part 10 is formed integrally with the front upper part 3 such that the front end of the top upper part 10 is continuous to the rear end of the front upper part 3. Broken lines L5 in FIGS. 1 through 3 imaginarily represent boundary between the front upper part 3 and the top upper part 10.

(First Gap)

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the upper 2 includes a first gap 11. The first gap 11 is disposed at a location corresponding to the medial side of the foot F of the wearer. The first gap 11 is disposed between the bottom upper part 5 and the top upper part 10 in the vertical direction.

The first gap 11 includes a first toe region 11 a and a first arch region 11 b. The first toe region 11 a and the first arch region 11 b are continuous to each other longitudinally.

The first toe region 11 a is disposed at, for example, a location corresponding to a region from the hallux distal phalanx DP to the vicinity of the distal condyle of the hallux metatarsal MT1 in the foot F of the wearer.

The first arch region 11 b is disposed at a location corresponding to a region from the vicinity of the distal condyle (MP joint vicinity) of the hallux metatarsal MT1 to the substantial medium of the heel bone HL in the longitudinal direction in the foot F of the wearer. That is, the first arch region 11 b is disposed at a location corresponding to the medial longitudinal arch MA of the foot F of the wearer. The first arch region 11 b is adjacent to the first arch cover part 7. In addition, a dimension of the first arch region 11 b in the vertical direction is larger than a dimension of the first toe region 11 a in the vertical direction.

(Second Gap)

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, the upper 2 includes a second gap 12. The second gap 12 is disposed at a location corresponding to the lateral side of the foot F of the wearer. The second gap 12 is disposed between the bottom upper part 5 and the top upper part 10 in the vertical direction.

The second gap 12 includes a second toe region 12 a and a second arch region 12 b. The second toe region 12 a and the second arch region 12 b are continuous to each other longitudinally.

The second toe region 12 a is disposed at a location corresponding to a region from the hallux distal phalanx DP to the vicinity of the distal condyle of the fifth metatarsal MT5 in the foot F of the wearer

The second arch region 12 b is disposed at a location corresponding to a region from the vicinity of the distal condyle of the (MP joint vicinity) of the fifth metatarsal MT5 to the substantial middle of the heel bone HL in the longitudinal direction in the foot F of the wearer. That is, the second arch region 12 b is disposed at a location corresponding to the lateral longitudinal arch LA of the foot F of the wearer. The second arch region 12 b is adjacent to the second arch cover part 9. In addition, a dimension of the second arch region 12 b in the vertical direction is larger than a dimension of the second toe region 12 a in the vertical direction.

(Tightening Part)

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5, the upper 2 includes a tightening part 20. The tightening part 20 is configured to adjust and reduce the dimensions of the first toe region 11 a and the first arch region 11 b in the vertical direction. The tightening part 20 is also configured to adjust and reduce the dimensions of the second arch region 12 b and the second toe region 12 a in the vertical direction.

In this embodiment, the tightening part 20 includes holes 21 a and 21 a, holes 21 b, 21 b, . . . , rings 22 a, 22 a, . . . , rings 22 b, 22 b, . . . , rings 22 c and 22 c, and a single shoelace 23.

Each of the holes 21 a and 21 a and the holes 21 b and 21 b is substantially a circular through hole. Each of the holes 21 a and 21 a and the holes 21 b and 21 b are disposed in a peripheral portion of the top upper part 10. The holes 21 a and 21 a are disposed in a front portion of the top upper part 10. The holes 21 b and 21 b are disposed near an opening of the top upper part 10.

The rings 22 a, 22 a, . . . are disposed at an upper end portion of each bottom upper part 5. Each of the rings 22 a has an approximately cylindrical shape having a through hole penetrating substantially in the longitudinal direction. The rings 22 a, 22 a, . . . are arranged with intervals substantially in the longitudinal direction.

The rings 22 b and 22 b, are disposed in a peripheral portion of the top upper part 10 in the foot width direction. Each of the rings 22 b has an approximately cylindrical shape having a through hole penetrating substantially in the longitudinal direction. The rings 22 b and 22 b, . . . are arranged with intervals substantially in the longitudinal direction.

The rings 22 c and 22 c are disposed in a top front end portion of the rear upper part 4. Each of the rings 22 c has an approximately cylindrical shape having a through hole penetrating substantially in the vertical direction.

The shoelace 23 is inserted in the holes 21 a and 21 a with an intermediate portion being located below a front portion of the top upper part 10. The shoelace 23 is inserted in the rings 22 a and 22 a such that the shoelace 23 is bridged from the holes 21 a to the rings 22 a located near the front upper part 3. The shoelace 23 is inserted in the rings 22 a and the rings 22 b such that the shoelace 23 is alternately bridged to the rings 22 a and the rings 22 b. The shoelace 23 is inserted in the rings 22 c and 22 c such that the shoelace 23 is bridged from the rings 22 b located near the foot insertion portion 2 a to the rings 22 c. The shoelace 23 is inserted in the holes 21 b and 21 b such that the shoelace 23 is bridged from the rings 22 c to the holes 21 b. The ends of the shoelace 23 are connected to each other near a rear portion of the top upper part 10.

Here, as illustrated in FIG. 5, in a state where the shoelace 23 is loosened, the dimensions of the first and the second gaps 11 and 12 in the vertical direction are relatively large. In this state, the bottom upper parts 5 and 5 and the top upper part 10 are separated from the foot F of the wearer.

On the other hand, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4, in a state where the shoelace 23 is tightened, the dimensions of the first and second gaps 11 and 12 in the vertical direction are relatively small. In this state, the bottom upper parts 5 and 5 and the top upper part 10 are in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the foot F of the wearer including the medial longitudinal arch MA and the lateral longitudinal arch LA. Specifically, the first arch cover part 7 supports the medial longitudinal arch MA of the foot F of the wearer from below, whereas the second arch cover part 9 supports the lateral longitudinal arch LA of the foot F of the wearer from a side.

Advantages of Embodiment

As described above, in the case where the tightening part 20 reduces the dimension of the first arch region 11 b in the vertical direction in the shoe S, the bottom and top upper parts 5 and 10 approach the peripheral surface of the foot F of the wearer including the medial longitudinal arch MA (see FIG. 4). In this case, since the first arch region 11 b is only displaced such that the dimension thereof in the vertical direction relatively decreases, excessive stress concentration on the bottom and top upper parts 5 and 10 can be reduced. Thus, crinkles are less likely to occur in the bottom and top upper parts 5 and 10. Consequently, the bottom and top upper parts 5 and 10 can easily fit the outer peripheral surface of the foot F of the wearer including the medial longitudinal arch MA. In particular, the first arch cover part 7 of the bottom upper part 5 at the medial side can easily fit, from below, the medial longitudinal arch MA of the foot F of the wearer having a complicated curved shape. The foot F of the wearer, mainly the medial longitudinal arch MA, can be stably supported by the bottom upper parts 5 and 5 and the top upper part 10 without a shift in the shoe S. Thus, it is possible to enhance fit feeling and support property of the shoe S to the foot F of the wearer at least for the medial longitudinal arch MA.

The tightening part 20 is also configured to adjust and reduce the dimensions of the first arch region 11 a and the first toe region 11 b in the vertical direction. Thus, the tightening part 20 reduces the dimensions of both the first toe region 11 a and the first arch region 11 b in the vertical direction so that the bottom and top upper parts 5 and 10 can easily fit the outer peripheral surface of the foot F of the wearer including an area from the toes to the medial longitudinal arch MA. In addition, an area of the foot F of the wearer from the toes to the medial longitudinal arch MA can be stably supported by the bottom upper parts 5 and 5 and the top upper part 10 without a shift in the shoe S. Thus, it is possible to enhance fit feeling and support property of the shoe S to the foot F of the wearer for the toes and the medial longitudinal arch MA.

The tightening part 20 is configured to tighten the bottom upper part 5 and the top upper part 10 in the second gap 12 and to adjust and reduce the dimension of the second arch region 12 b in the vertical direction. With this configuration, in a case where the tightening part 20 reduces the dimension of the second arch region 12 b in the vertical direction, the bottom and top upper parts 5 and 10 approach the outer peripheral surface of the foot F of the wearer including the lateral longitudinal arch LA. In this case, since the second arch region 12 b is only displaced such that the dimension thereof in the vertical direction relatively decreases, excessive stress concentration on the bottom and top upper parts 5 and 10 can be reduced at the lateral side. Thus, crinkles and the like are less likely to occur in the bottom and top upper parts 5 and 10 at the lateral side. Consequently, the bottom and top upper parts 5 and 10 can easily fit the outer peripheral surface of the foot F of the wearer at the lateral side. In particular, the second arch cover part 9 of the bottom upper part 5 located at the lateral side can easily fit an area where bones constituting the lateral longitudinal arch LA of the foot F of the wearer project toward the lateral side such that the second arch cover part 9 surrounds this area. Thus, it is possible to enhance fit feeling to the foot F of the wearer including the lateral longitudinal arch LA in the shoe S.

The tightening part 20 is configured to include at least one shoelace 23 and ends of the shoelace 23 are connected to each other in a rear portion of the top upper part 10. With this configuration, the shoelace 23 disposed in the first and second gaps 11 and 12 can be tied as in a general shoe S.

First Variation of Embodiment

In the embodiment, the sole 1 includes the outer sole 1 a and the midsole 1 b, but the disclosure is not limited to this embodiment. For example, as in a shoe S according to a first variation illustrated in FIGS. 6 through 8, the shoe S may be a cleat shoe including a sole 1 constituted by an outer sole 1 a.

In the embodiment, the tightening part 20 includes the holes 21 a and 21 a, the holes 21 b, 21 b, . . . , the rings 22 a, 22 a, . . . , the rings 22 b, 22 b, . . . , the rings 22 c and 22 c, and the single shoelace 23, but the disclosure is not limited to this embodiment. For example, as in the shoe S according to the first variation illustrated in FIGS. 6 through 8, the rings 22 a, 22 a, may be replaced by holes 24 a, 24 a, and the rings 22 b, 22 b, . . . may be replaced by holes 24 b, 24 b, . . . . In this first variation described above, the function of the tightening part 20 can also be obtained in the same manner as the embodiment described above.

Second Variation of Embodiment

In the embodiment described above, the top upper part 10 is integrally formed with the front upper part 3, but the disclosure is not limited to this embodiment. For example, as in a shoe S according to a second variation illustrated in FIG. 9, the top upper part 10 and the front upper part 3 may be separated from each other. In this variation, the top upper part 10 can be detachably attached to the front upper part 3 and the bottom upper parts 5 and 5.

Other Embodiments

In the embodiment described above, the first gap 11 includes the first toe region 11 a and the first arch region 11 b. Alternatively, the first gap 11 may be made of only the first arch region 11 b. In this case, it is an upper end of the bottom upper part 5 and a peripheral portion of the top upper part 10 are continuous to each other at a location corresponding to the first toe region 11 a.

In the embodiment described above, the second gap 12 includes the second toe region 12 a and the second arch region 12 b, but the present disclosure is not limited to this embodiment. That is, the second gap 12 may be made of only the second arch region 12 b. In this case, it is an upper end of the bottom upper part 5 and a peripheral portion of the top upper part 10 are continuous to each other at a location corresponding to the second toe region 12 a.

In the embodiment described above, the upper 2 includes the first gap 11 and the second gap 12, but the present disclosure is not limited to this embodiment, and the upper 2 may include only the first gap 11.

In the embodiment described above, the shoelace 23 is used as an element constituting the tightening part 20, but the present disclosure is not limited to this embodiment. For example, the shoelace 23 may be replaced by a member such as an unillustrated belt or wire.

In the embodiment described above, the tightening part 20 includes the rings 22 c and 22 c, but the present disclosure is not limited to this embodiment. That is, the tightening part 20 may not include the rings 22 c and 22 c. In this case, it is sufficient that the shoelace 23 may be bridged from the rings 22 a or the rings 22 b near the foot insertion portion 2 a to the holes 21 b.

Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, the present disclosure is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications and changes may be made within the gist of the invention.

The present disclosure is applicable in industry as a sport shoe for running and various sports, a sneaker for ordinary use, and/or a rehabilitation shoe, for example. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A shoe comprising: a sole; and an upper, wherein the upper includes a bottom upper part fixed to a peripheral portion of the sole, a top upper part disposed above the bottom upper part, a first gap disposed at a location corresponding to a medial side of a foot of a wearer, the first gap being disposed between the bottom upper part and the top upper part in a vertical direction, and a tightening part disposed at least in the first gap, the tightening part being configured to tighten the bottom upper part and the top upper part to each other, the bottom upper part includes a first arch cover part disposed at a location corresponding to a medial side of the foot of the wearer and supports a medial longitudinal arch of the foot of the wearer from below, the first gap includes a first arch region disposed at a location corresponding to the medial longitudinal arch of the foot of the wearer, and the tightening part is configured to adjust and reduce at least a dimension of the first arch region in the vertical direction.
 2. The shoe according to claim 1, wherein the first gap further includes a first toe region disposed at a location corresponding to a toe located ahead of the medial longitudinal arch of the foot of the wearer, the first toe region being continuous to the first arch region, and the tightening part is configured to adjust and reduce a dimension of each of the first arch region and the first toe region in the vertical direction.
 3. The shoe according to claim 2, wherein the dimension of the first arch region in the vertical direction is larger than the dimension of the first toe region in the vertical direction.
 4. The shoe according to claim 1, wherein the upper further includes a second gap located at a location corresponding to a lateral side of the foot of the wearer, the second gap being disposed between the bottom upper part and the top upper part in the vertical direction, the bottom upper part includes a second arch cover part disposed at a location corresponding to the lateral side of the foot of the wearer, the second arch cover part being configured to cover a lateral longitudinal arch of the foot of the wearer from a side, the second gap includes a second arch region located at a location corresponding to the lateral longitudinal arch of the foot of the wearer, and the tightening part is configured to tighten the bottom upper part and the top upper part in the second gap and to adjust and reduce a dimension of the second arch region in the vertical direction.
 5. The shoe according to claim 4, wherein the tightening part includes at least one shoelace such that ends of the shoelace are connected to each other in a rear portion of the top upper part. 